Shuttle crane



F. c. HARRIS SHUTTLE CRANE May 13, 1947-.

Filed Deo. 26, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 .ITE

F. C. HARRIS May `13, 1947.

SHUTTLE CRANE Filed Dec. 26, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mw QN s SQ mE m WM ,oWLMI I. "n C A M L K M E F @www May 13, 1947.

3 She'ets-Sheet 3 Filed DeC. 26, 1944 m ya R. E mr N N A E. WH, w ma 7 F.Y B o @Qua U65 Patented May 13, 1947 The American MonoRail Company,Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application-December 26, 1944,Serial No. 569,823

16 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to the crane art andparticularly yto a suspended -erane which can be moved vendwise aswell-as sidewise.

There are many conditions in which -it would be a marked advantage tohave a suspended sidewi'se movable crane which oouldbe moved end- Wise.'An illustration olf such a condition is a building in which the cranerunways are disposed between two rows of roof supporting pillars beyondone or -b'oth of which rows bays are located. lf the crane could bemoved endwise it could receive a load in one hay, move it past theadjacent row 'o"f pillars and `discharge the load at some other place,such as in another hay.

IThe.problem of shifting `loads across a space between-two adjacentconveyorspasfrom `a crane past building pillars to a traclgbeyond thepillars, has existed-for a long time and Variousproposals have been madefor Ysolving the problem but, so far-as I am awarefno proposals havebeen made by others which have been entirely-satisfactoryasasolut'ionforthat problem. y Y

AIn my copending applicationeer, No. 481,733, iiled on April 1943, 'Idisclosed and claimed apparatus which aimed `at the solution of thatproblem. While Vthe apparatus of that application be'enduiteSatisfactory in 4ruse, it possessed certain disadvantages. It consisted`of a number of -rnoving vpar-ts which were expensive to Abuild-aridmaintain. AIt required considerable amounts of space or headroom whichin certain instances was quite valuable in `terms of cost of buildingconstruction. vIts construction was such that it was limitedas to--thesize of loads it could transferfacross such a space Yand alsoas -to thesize of the `space which it -could span, for-the en dwisemoving-partsfcould-not be `made resistant to bending -and binding whenthe heavier loads were being `handled or when 'the lighter loadsA weretobe movedacross a larger space.

By thepresent `invention I have provided a sidewise movable suspendedcrane which is movable endwise as a unit, which comprises/a minimumnumb'er'of parts, which avoids the shortcomings ofp'rior cranes andwhichpossesses many advan- .tag'sfnt 4vpossessed by any suspendedcranewith which ITam familiar.

The present invention will be better understood byLthse skilledin theartfrom the following description 4and the drawings accompanying andforming Ava rpart of this specification and in which Figure 'l is a topplan view of a heavy duty crane embodying the-present invention;

Figure '2 is a fragmentary, side elevational 2 view, partly in section,taken on line `22 of Fiel;

Figure 3 is an end elevational View taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional VView 'taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, top plan view, partly in section, of one setof crane supporting trolleys of Fig. l.;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of .part of the mechanism forycontrolling sidewise and cndwise movement 'of the crane;

Figure 7 is an elevational view, partly in section,`taken on line 'I--lof Fig. 6;

Figure 8`is a plan viewof the cable 'and drums shown in Fig. l formoving the crane endwise; and,

Figure 9 is an elevational view taken on line ses of Fig. s.` y

Figs. "1 to f5 inclusive show one form of the present invention.Parallel spaced crane run.. ways I are suspended between rows of pillars4(not shown) `in any suitable manner, as for example, by being attachedto trusses l2 of the "building (Fig. 2). The crane comprises supportingtrolleysand a bridge with end frames.

The crane supporting trolleys are mounted yin opposed "pairs on runways'I The trolleys of" one of such pairs are indicated at 3 in Fig. 1 andthose of another pair are indicated at "4 in'the saine figure. fTwoofsuch pairs of trolleys are employed with the crane here illustrated.

All the trolleys of `pairs 3 and -4 are alike and hence the descriptionof one will suffice Vfor all. Each of these trolleys comprises a loadbar I0 (see Figs. 1, 2 and 5) which is disposed beneath runway I and hasupwardly extending marginal iflanges `I"I intermediate its ends and end-projections f2 provided with vertical holes.Transverselyextending'trunnions I3 are pivotallyattaclied tondprojections I2 and 4each trunnon hasa 'central recess "I4 in which theend proiec tion `I2 is received. Trolley yokes I5 arepvoted onthei endsofthe trunnions and aresecured in place as Aby nuts I6.

`Each `yoke I5 carries shafts on which upper trolley `wheels nIl -arerotatably mounted. The load bar I0 also carries shafts which are atright anglesto theshafts of wheels Il and on which lowertrolley wheelsI8 are mounted. From what has just been 'saiditwill'be understoodthateach crane supporting trolley comprises a load bar which carries twoopposed pairs of lower wheels yIB whose axes are disposed'parallel tothecrane runway l 'andalso 'carriesthe upper wheels Il whose axes aredisposed at right angles to runway I. The wheels I8 are conected ingroups of four to the opposite ends of the load bar I9 and their yokesare capable of swiveling motion relative to the load bar. In otherwords, each trolley includes upper wheels to run on the runways and alower set of wheels for a purpose presently to be described.

The crane bridge includes spaced parallel beams 28 connected by suitablecross members 2| and braces 22 so that it is a strong, rigid structure.At each end this bridge is securely connected to the end frames. Eachend frame consists of a rigid structure formed by side members 25, crossmembers 26 connected thereto, braces 21 and beams 28. One side member 25of each frame is connected to the beams 20 of the bridge and the beams28 of each frame are aligned with and attached to the beams 20 of thebridge. The end members 26 of each end frame are better shown in Fig. 3,where, as will be seen, these members are T-shaped in cross-section withthe T inverted so that the flanges normally at the bottom of the T reston the tops of the lower wheels I8 of the trolleys. Since these endmembers 26 extend for some distance on either side of each runway, itwill be understood that the crane may move endwise as a unit tocorresponding extents. Current carrying bus bars 29 may be secured alongbeams 28 and 28 to be engaged by collectors on load carrying trolleys(not shown) which run on the lower flanges of these beams.

Between the end frames an operators cab 30 is suspended from cross beams3| which are secured to the tops of bridge beams 20, This cab 39 may beequipped with the usual electrical control apparatus (not shown) Thecrane of Fig. 1 is provided with means by which it may be moved sidewisealong runways I. The means shown includes a carriage 35 (Fig. 3) whichhas a, bracket 36 at one end attached to and supported by the adjacentload bar I9. At its other end, the carriage is connected to a trolley 32having wheels to run on the runway I. The carriage 35 mounts two wheels38 which have deformable treads engageable with the under surface ofrunway I and which are driven by a motor 39 attached to carriage 35.When motor 39 is energized the wheels 38 are rotated and move the cranesidewise along its runways. Preferably, such crane moving means as hasjust been described is provided at each end of the crane forsimultaneous engagement with each runway. In this manner the crane willbe moved sidewise along the runways while being maintained perpendicularto each runway.

The crane is also provided with means by which it may be moved endwise.This means is shown in Figs. l, 2, 4 and 6 to 9 inclusive. Reeling drums58a and 49h are supported between cross beams 3l and outside of bridgebeams 20 to rotate about vertical axes. Drum 49a. is driven by motor 4I.One end frame of the crane carries two sheaves 58h and 58d and the otherframe carries sheaves 58a and 59e. Each load bar I0 of the cranesupporting trolleys is connected to a draw bar I as at 52 in Fig. 3.Each draw bar 5I is connected to cable 55 by clamps 56. It will beunderstood that the l draw bars 5I are of such length that the adjacentend frame may be moved for the full predetermined length of its travelwithout interference of the clamps 56 with the adjacent sheaves 58.Cable 55 is endless, in effect, is provided With length adjuster 58 andis also provided with a current control bar 59.

As will be better understood by reference to Figs. 8 and 9, cable 55,starting at the righthand end of adjuster 53 threads clockwise arounddrum 48a, then counterclockwise around drum 49h, thence around sheaves50a and 5013, thence counterclockwise around drum 4Gb and clockwisearound drum 40a, and then around sheaves 50c and 59d and back toadjuster 58. When drum 40a is actuated by motor 4I to rotate in aclockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 8, the reaches ofcable 55 between the drums and the lefthand clamps 56 are shortened withcoincident lengthening of the reaches of cable between the drums and therighthand clamps 56. This reeling in and paying out of cable reachescauses the sheaves and the entire crane to move toward the right.Obviously, when motor 4I is reversed and drums 48a and 46h are rotatedin the opposite direction, the crane will be moved endwise toward theleft in Figs. 1 and 8. Such endwise movement of the crane is freelypermitted because it is supported on the tops of the lower wheels I8.

The current controlling means 59 above mentioned is better shown inFigs. 6 and 7. This means comprises a bar which constitutes a part ofcable 55 and which is disposed between pairs of rollers 66 carried by a.frame attached to the crane. This frame includes vertical end pieces 61,top and bottom members 68 and 69 with angles 1l) and channel 1I servingas means of stiffening and for attaching the frame to the crane bridge.The bar 55 has a cam 15 on its lower surface which is engageable withcam rollers 19 of current controllers 16, 11 and 18 adjustably carriedby the lower frame member 69. It will be understood that currentcontroller 11 is connected in the electrical circuit which energizes themotors 39 for moving the crane sidewise on runways I and thatcontrollers 16 and 18 are in the circuit which energizes motor 4I tomove the crane endwise. When the cam follower 19 of controller 11engages cam 15, as indicated in Fig. 6, motor 39 may be energized, forthe crane will then be in a normal or neutral position relative torunways I. When motor 4I is energized and moves the crane endwise farenough for the follower of controller 11 to move 01T the high part ofcam 15, the circuit to motor 39 will be broken. Thus motor 39 can notmove the crane sidewise along the runways when the crane has beenshifted endwise out of its normal position relative to the runways. Whencam 15 engages the follower of controller 11 or 18 it breaks the circuitof motor 4I and thus deenergizes the motor. Preferably, the circuits ofmotors 39 and 4I are so interlocked that one circuit is open when theother is closed.

Altho the present invention has been described in some detail inconnection with a heavy duty, cab carrying crane, it will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to such acrane. The cab may be omitted if desired. Also, the crane may be muchlighter and embody only a single beam 20. In that case one beam 29 maybe omitted and the end frames shortened. if desired, and disposedsymmetrical- 1y with respect to that beam, each end frame having asingle beam 28 aligned with and connected to bridge beam 20.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the presentinvention provides a crane which may be of a wide range of load carryingcapacity, which is simple in construction, which is movable endwise as aunit, which is capable of receiving or discharging loads beyond a row ofcolumns and which is practically fool-proof as regards the possibilityof fouling a column when being moved sidewise.

Having thus described my invention so that others skilled in the art maybe able to understand and practice' the same, I state that what I desireto secure by Letters Patent is denned in what is claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A suspended crane comprising trolleys having upper wheels to run onspaced parallel runways and having lower wheels, a bridge to extendtransversely between and beyond both runways and having rails to run onthe tops of said lower wheels, and means for moving said bridge endwiseon said lower wheels, said means including a drum on said bridge andflexible means connected to said trolleys and operatively engaging saiddrum.

2. A suspended crane comprising trolleys having upper wheels to run onspaced parallel runways and having lower wheels, a bridge to extendtransversely between and beyond both runways and having rails to run onthe tops of said lower wheels, means including a drum on said bridge anda cable windable about said drum and connected to said trolleys formoving said bridge endwise on said lower wheels, and means engaging oneof said runways for moving said crane sidewise along said runways.

3. A suspended crane comprising trolleys having upper wheels to run onspaced parallel runways and having lower wheels, a bridge to extendtransversely between and beyond both runways and having rails to run onthe tops of said lower wheels extending from end to end thereof, andmeans for moving said bridge endwise on said lower wheels, said meansincluding a drum on said bridge, anchors connected to said trolleys andflexible means attached to the anchors and windable about said drum.

4. A suspended crane comprising trolleys having upper wheels to run onspaced parallel runways and having lower wheels, a bridge to extendtransversely between and beyond both runways and having rails to run onthe tops of said lower wheels, and means for moving said bridge endwiseon said lower wheels, said means including cooperating members connectedto the bridge and to the bridge supporting trolleys.

5. A suspended crane comprising trolleys having upper wheels to run onspaced parallel runways and having lower wheels below said runways, abridge to extend transversely between and beyond both runways, havingparallel spaced rails to run on the tops of said lower wheels and havingspaced parallel trolley tracks between said portions and extending fromend to end of said bridge, and means for moving said bridge endwise onsaid lower wheels, said means including rotatable drums on said bridge,means on the bridge for rotating one of said drums, anchors on saidtrolleys, and cables connected to said anchors and windable about saiddrums.

6. A suspended crane comprising trolleys having upper wheels to run onspaced parallel runways and having lower wheels below said runways, abridge to extend transversely between and beyond both runways, havingparallel spaced rails to run on the tops of said lower wheels and havingspaced parallel trolley tracks between said portions and extending fromend to end of said bridge, and means for moving said bridge endwise onsaid lower wheels, said means including an endless, movable cableconnected to said bridge and anchors connected to the bridge sup..porting trolleys and to said cable.

7. A suspended crane comprising trolleys having upper wheels to run onspaced parallel runways and having lower wheels, a bridge to extendtransversely between said runways including end frames to run on thetops of said lower wheels 'and a trolley track extending from end to endof the bridge and end frames, and means for moving said bridge and endframes as a unit endwise on said lower wheels, said means includinganchors attached to said trolleys, a drum on said bridge and a cableconnected to said anchors and operatively engaging said drum.

8. A suspended crane comprising trolleys having upper wheels to run onspaced parallel runways and having lower wheels, a bridge includingframes at each end thereof to run on the tops of said lower wheels and atrack for trolleys depending from the bridge and end frame and extendingfor the full length of the bridge and end frame, and means for movingsaid crane bridge endwise on said lower wheels, said means includingdrums on said bridge, a cable operatively engaging said drums and cableanchors attached to said trolleys.

9. A suspended crane system comprising spaced parallel runways, cranesupporting trolleys having upper wheels to run on said runways andhaving lower wheels, a crane extending transversely between and beyondboth runways and including rails to run on the tops of said lowerwheels, and a trolley track extending for the full length of the crane,means including a drum on said crane, a cable on said drum, and meansfor anchoring the cable` to said trolleys for moving said crane endwiseon said lower wheels, and means for moving said crane sidewise alongsaid runways, said means including a driven wheel engaging the underside of one of said runways.

10. A suspended crane system comprising spaced parallel runways, cranesupporting trolleys having upper wheels to run on said runways a/ndhaving lower wheels, a crane extending transversely between and beyondboth runways and including rails to run on the tops of said lowerwheels, and. a trolley track extending for the full length of the crane,means for moving said crane endwise on said lower wheels, means formoving said crane sidewise along said runways, said endwise moving meansincluding a member anchored to one of said crane supporting trolleys, amovable member cooperating with said anchored member and connected tosaid crane, and means for actuating said movable member.

1l. A suspended crane system comprising spaced parallel runways, cranesupporting trolleys having upper wheels to run4 on said runways andhaving lower wheels, a crane extending transversely between and beyondboth runways and including rails to run on the tops of said lowerwheels, and means for moving said crane bridge endwise on said lowerwheels, said means including rods anchored to said trolleys, sheaves anddrums on the crane, an endless cable clamped to said rods and partlyencircling said sheaves and drums, and means for rotating one of saiddrums and thereby shifting the position of the sheaves along said cable.

l2. A trolley for a sidewise and endwise movable suspended cranecomprising load bars to be positioned beneath crane runway rails,trunnions pivotally attached to said load bars, yokesv on saidtrunnions, upper trolley wheels rotatably carried by said yokes to runon flanges of runway rails for sidewise movement of the crane, and lowerwheels rotatably connected to said load loars to engage under railsurfaces of the crane and support the latter for endwise movement.

13. A suspended crane system comprising two parallel, spaced runwayshaving trolley tracks, two trolleys on each runway, each of saidtrolleys including a load bar beneath a runway, yokes pivoted to saidbar, upper wheels rotatably connected to said yoke and resting on saidrunway tracks, and lower wheels rotatably connected to said load bar torotate on axes parallel to the runways, a crane extending transverselybetween and beyond both of said runways and including rails each restingon the lower wheels of trolleys on said runways and a load carryingtrolley track between said rails and. extending for the full length ofsaid crane, and means for moving said crane endwise, said meansincluding a pair of sheaves near each end of said crane drums on thecrane between Saidv pairs of sheaves, an endless cable threaded partlyaround each sheave and drum, means to rotate one of the drums, andclamps attached to each load bar and to the cab-le.

14. A suspended crane system comprising spaced parallel runways, cranesupporting trolleys having upper wheels resting on said runways andhaving lower wheels, a crane extending transversely between and beyondboth runways and having rails resting on the tops of said lower wheels,means to move said crane sidewise along said runways with said cranesupporting trolleys, means to move said crane endwise relative to saidtrolleys, and control means operatively associated with both of saidcrane moving means to prevent sidewise movement of the crane when it isin an endwise actuated position.

15. A suspended crane system comprising spaced parallel runways, cranesupporting trolleys having upper wheels resting on said runways andhaving lower wheels, a crane extending transversely between and beyondboth runways and having rails resting on the tops of said lower wheels,electrical means including a switch for moving said crane sidewise alongsaid runways with said crane supporting trolleys, electrical meansincluding switches for moving said crane in either direction endwiseinto and out of its normal position and relative to said trolleys, andmeans for actuating said switches one at a time, and for actuating theswitch in the sidewise moving electrical means only when the crane is inits normal position.

16. A suspended crane system comprising spaced parallel runways, cranesupporting trolleys having upper wheels resting on said runways andhaving lower wheels, a crane extending transversely between and beyondboth runways and having rails resting on the tops of said lower wheels,electrical means including a switch for moving said bridge sidewise,electrical means including switches for moving said crane endwise,

and a switch actuating cam engageable with said switches one at a time,the switch of the sidewise moving means being located between the othersaid switches.

` FRANK C. HARRIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

